This dimension focuses on how extent to which a society stress achievement or nurture. Masculinity is seen to be the trait that emphasizes ambition, acquisition of wealth, and differentiated gender roles. Femininity is seen to be the trait that stress caring and nurturing behaviors, sexuality equality, environmental awareness, and more fluid gender roles.
Hoftstede’s definitions:
“Masculinity stands for a society in which social gender roles are clearly distinct: Men are supposed to be assertive, tough, and focused on material success; women are supposed to be more modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life.”
“Femininity stands for a society in which social gender roles overlap: Both men and women are supposed to be modest, tender, and concerned with the quality of life.”
Traits of Masculinity / Femininity
| Subarea | High Masculine | Low Masculine (Feminine) |
| Social Norms | 1)Ego oriented2)Money and things are important3)Live in order to work | 1)Relationship oriented2)Quality of life and people are important3)Work in order to live |
| Politics and Economics | 1)Economic growth high priority2)Conflict solved through force | 1)Environment protection high priority2)Conflict solved through negotiation |
| Religion | 1)Most important in life2)Only men can be priests | 1)Less important in life2)Both men and women as priests |
| Work | 1)Larger gender wage gap2)Fewer women in management3)Preference for higher pay | 1)Smaller gender wage gap2)More women in management3) Preference for fewer working hours |
| Family and School | 1)Traditional family structure2)Girls cry, boys don’t; boys fight, girls don’t3)Failing is a disaster | 1)Flexible family structure2)Both boys and girls cry; neither fight3)Failing a minor accident |
The purpose of the exercise is to make the student think with a sociological perspective not come up with definitive answers. The instructor should pick a country other than the student’s passport country for comparison. I have used Thailand vs. US and China vs. Thailand but any two countries can be used for this exercise. The instructor should pick a country the students are very familiar with, possibly a neighboring country that the students often visit. The instructor should emphasize that the conceptualization is just the first step and the next step would be personal empirical observation or better yet formal research.
Which country is more feminine in the subareas below?
| Thailand |
Select one of the following symbols to fill in the blanks below:
|
US | |||
| Social Norms |
|
Social Norms | |||
| Politics and Economic |
|
Politics and Economic | |||
| Religion |
|
Religion | |||
| Work |
|
Work | |||
| Family and School |
|
Family and School |
Which country is more feminine in the subareas below?
| China |
Select one of the following symbols to fill in the blanks below:
|
Thailand | |||
| Social Norms |
|
Social Norms | |||
| Politics and Economic |
|
Politics and Economic | |||
| Religion |
|
Religion | |||
| Work |
|
Work | |||
| Family and School |
|
Family and School |
http://foxhugh.wordpress.com/worksheets/multicultural/hofstede-execise-answers/
